Traveling-bag frame



(No Model.)

H. RUPT.

TRAVELINGBAG FRAME. No. 365,024. PatentedJune 14, 1887.

joint is formed with an offset or shoulder in l ATENT Ori-rca HENRY RUPF, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

TRAVELINGBAG FRAME.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,024, dated June 14, 1887.

(No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be itknown that l, HENRY RUPF, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ofNew York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Traveling-Bags, of which the following is a specification.

The improvement relates to the braces or stayhinges for holding the top extended. Such have been extensively introduced within a few years and are much approved. In one style, when thehinged frame which constitutes the top ofthe valise or traveling-bag is closed, the bracing device lies closed between them, and as the frame is extended the brace correspondingly extends. It is necessary on opening to bring the frame into the completelyopen position and to turn it a little farther in the same direction, so as to bring the joint a little higher than the main portion of the frame. The brace or stay-hinge follows the same movement. On reversing the motion and commencing to close the hinged frame again the brace remains up and braces the frame, so that it cannot close. The knucklecaeh piece. These shoulders abut together and prevent the device from turning but a little beyond the straight position. I work on the same general principle. I have devised and practically wrought out an improvement by which the end is attained with fewer parts than usual. I employ simply two pieces of metal knuckled together by a pin, and each piece secured to its part of the hinged frame of the bag by a rivet tting loosely in a double-tapered hole. The bearing-surface of each piece against its adjacent frame is formed with a rounded bevel. This allows the rolling motion which is necessary to the work, as will appear farther on. The double-taper hole allows the bearing of the brace against the rivet to be practically a knife-edge. It does not change its place as the brace changes its position. This is important by allowing the aetion to be effectual with the joint of the brace rising but very little above the straight line.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and representwhat I consider the best means of carrying .out the iuvention.

Figure l is a side elevation ofthe top oftheentire back in an open position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the joint at one end. Figs. 3 and 4 are on a larger scale, each a vertical section through one of the joints. Fig. 3 shows the joint with the parts exactly in a right line; the dotted lines show it in the extreme open position, being opened beyond the right line. Fig. 4 corresponds to Fig. 1. It shows the position assumed by the device and the other parts when the parts are set free after having been opened beyond the right line. The brace or stay-hinge is in this figure performing its function of holding the back open.

Similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is a portion of the leather or other material constituting the body of the travelingbag.

B Bt arc the parts of the ordinary metallic frame hinged together at b. They may be opened a little beyond the straight position, and they must be so operated to allow my brace or stay-hinge to come into action automatically.

D D2 arc the two parts of my brace. They are kuuekled together at d. The parts are formed each with an abutting shoulder at d d2. l'lach is also rounded, by which I mean beveled, with a rounding bevel near each end, as indicated at il: :i: :t A double-taper hole, m, is made in each piece D DIg near the end. A rivet, O, is stiffly set in each of the parts B B2. These rivets are received in the holes m, andare provided with heads O,adapted to hold the pieces efficiently, but with a little looseness. The smallest portion of each doubletapered or h our-glass-shaped holebears against its rivet, tending to compress the parts D' D2 together. The form ofthe holes m causes the bearings to be narrow-practically knifeedgesh-so that the bearing does not change place as the hinge or knuckle d* is raised above or depressed below a right line between these bearings. This allows a small amount of movement of the knuckle to be effective in causing the brace to be thrown into or out of action. Vheu the knucklcd has been thrown up slightly, the abutting shoulders d d are efficient to prevent the stay-hinge from being any farther bent upward out of the straight line, and it remains there, bracing the parts IOO B B2 and holding them rigidly and strongly in the open position. The rounded ends :i: n :t afford a fair bearing of the under face 0f each piece against the frame B or B2.

Whenever it is desired to close the bag, a sufficient force of the finger on the knuckle cl depresses it until the parts D D2 form a right line and alittle farther. Then the stay-hinge collapses, the knuckle d sinking down into or near the line of the knuckle b, andthe bag may then be closed and secured by the ordinary means.

I attach importance to the double-taper form of the holes m and to the shoulders d d. They allow light braces to serve efficiently without springs.

Modifications may be made in theforms and proportions. I prefer to make the parts D D2 about equal in Width to the corresponding metallic frames, B B2; but this may be varied.

I claim as my invention- In a traveling-bag, in combination with the my hand, at New York city, this 10th day of 3o November, 1886,'in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY RUPF.

Witnesses:

CHARLEs R; SEARLE, S. M. HAVILAND. 

